Newsletter June 2016

June 2016 Newsletter

Universal Credit is now available in these areas to people in and out of work, those on low incomes, families, and those with disabilities.

Universal Credit is already offered to all single jobseekers in these areas and is now replacing 6 benefits with one monthly payment. People who would previously have made a claim to:

income-based Jobseekers Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Income Support

working tax credit

child tax credits and

Housing Benefit

will now instead claim Universal Credit.

The new service is simplifying the system and revolutionising welfare by making work pay and helping those who are in work to increase their hours and earnings.

Families on Universal Credit who move into work can claim back up to 85% of their eligible childcare costs, boosting their finances by over 13,000 a year.

Those on Universal Credit will now have 24 hour access to a simple online account that they can use to manage their claim, including reporting changes of circumstances, checking the details of their claim and date of their next Universal Credit payment.

With the application process now completely online, Universal Credit streamlines the system, making it simpler to navigate and easier to understand.

If you need help with your claim, you can contact the Universal Credit Helpline on Tel 0345 600 0723 or text phone 0345 600 0743 between 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday (closed on bank and public holidays).

Possible Effects on Ekarro

There are 22 residents receiving HB or 40 % of Ekarro residents who receive Housing Benefits and Ekarro receives approx. £8000 to £9000 per month in HB

It is key that residents either request that their universal credit -housing element is paid to Ekarro or pay this housing element to Ekarro on a weekly or monthly basis to prevent arrears and legal action